Dorset Maps

23x18 cm

DORSETSHIRE
Engraved by B.Baker Islington.
Copper engraving by Benjamin Baker (1766-1841) born in London, the third son of Edward Baker (1730-1797) mathematical instrument maker of Fetter Lane, he was apprenticed to a watchmaker, Thomas Beresford but turned over to Mapmaker, engraver and globemaker, William Palmer in 1782. He became principal engraver to The Ordnance survey in 1804.
The maps were prepared for publication in The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure..., appearing in the issues between 1791-1797, published by W. Bent. This was the second series of county maps produced in the magazine, the first series by Emanuel Bowen and Thomas Kitchin was published between 1747-1766 by John Hinton. Baker's maps were based on the 'quarto' maps of John Cary published from 1787. 
The maps also appeared unchanged in Maps of the Several Counties and Shires in England… published by Darton and Harvey in 1804. Laurie & Whittle acquired the plates and made a number of revisions including a compass rose behind the title and their imprint, publishing them in Laurie & Whittle's New and Improved English Atlas… 1807 & 1816.

Some offsetting from the printed text, folds as issued, and some small "rust" spots but it remains a good example of an uncommon map.